Electric and hybrid cars: how the transition to sustainable mobility continues

The transition to the sustainable mobility represents the most effective solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. 

For this reason, the governments of the EU member states are making incentives and concessions available to replace internal combustion vehicles with electric and hybrid cars, vehicles that have a lower ecological footprint and can use renewable energy to recharge their batteries.

According to Repower's white paper, “Sustainable mobility and electric vehicles", In Italy, 4% of cars sold are electric, a result that has been growing in recent years even if still below the European average of 14%. 

The charging network is also becoming increasingly widespread in our country. According to Motus-E surveys, at the end of 2023 in our territory we reached 50.678 electric charging stations, with an increase of 38% compared to 2022, of which over half are located in the North (58%).

According to the Smart mobility report 2024 of Energy & Strategy of the Polytechnic University of Milan, for bridge the gap with other European countries Italy is expected to register over 800 fully electric vehicles per year. 

A adequate information on electric cars It could encourage a greater propensity for the population to purchase these models, aligning us with the rest of Europe in achieving the decarbonisation targets set by the EU for 2030. 

What does it mean to switch to an electric or hybrid car today?

Switching to electric or hybrid cars today involves first of all a lower environmental impact, as these cars do not produce – or do so in small percentages, in the case of hybrids – direct emissions of greenhouse gases such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. 

Electric cars can be recharge with clean energy, either using charging points powered by electricity produced from certified renewable sources or through green electricity generated by a home or business photovoltaic system. 

In addition to the sustainability factor, we must also consider the lower management costs compared to diesel and petrol cars, mainly thanks to the greater efficiency of electric propulsion systems and the possibility of reducing the cost per kilometre by using cheaper charging solutions.

Then there are the purchase incentives for electric and hybrid cars covered by the Ecobonus, a benefit that allows you to obtain a discounted price from the dealer directly on the invoice if you meet the requirements, or the electric charging station bonus which offers a contribution of up to 80% of the purchase and installation costs of home charging stations such as columns or wall boxes. 

Another advantage is represented by theexemption from car tax for electric vehicles available in many Italian regions, in addition to a series of additional benefits such as free access to limited traffic zones and free parking in paid public car parks.

Finally, even in the insurance panorama there is no lack of the possibility of taking advantage of dedicated services, made available by some companies specifically to meet specific sustainable mobility needs.

For example, with a leading reality in the sector such as Verti is possible get a car insurance quote by combining the RCA policy with some completely tailor-made additional guarantees, such as deluxe roadside assistance, including the towing your car in case of a flat battery, or the Theft and Fire guarantee with compensation in case of theft of the charging cable, compensation up to 50 euros for public transport in case of malfunction of the charging station and Reimbursement of up to 500 euros for battery disposal.

Bidirectional charging could save 3,6 billion euros in Italy.

Electric mobility is a sector with a high rate of innovation, where technological evolution offers cutting-edge solutions every year for reducing environmental impact and energy costs. 

One of the most promising innovations in this field is the V2G technology (vehicle-to-gride), a system that allows electric car batteries to both recharge from an external energy source and to sell the stored electricity to the grid. In practice, these batteries can function as storage systems and exchange energy with the grid based on different needs. 

According to a new study by Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe's leading clean transport group, cars equipped with bi-directional charging devices could save you up to 52% on your electricity bill. 

This is possible because V2G technology allows you to use electricity from the grid when it costs less, or take it directly from a cheap source such as photovoltaic solar panels of a home system. You can then reuse some of the energy at home to power appliances by connecting the car battery to the home's electrical system. 

According to T&E analysis, with this technology In Italy alone, 3,6 billion euros could be saved annually by 2040, while at European level the economic benefits would be 9 billion euros in 2030 and 22 billion euros in 2040. 

Overall, estimates indicate that savings could exceed 100 billion euros in Europe in the decade between 2030 and 2040Furthermore, V2G could support an increase in photovoltaic capacity of up to 47% in Italy and 40% in Europe, reducing the need for renewable energy storage by up to 92% by 2040 through the storage of electricity by electric vehicles during periods of excess production.

The prospects for the electric and hybrid car market in Italy

The Italian electric car market still records percentages below the European average, however even in our country the Ecobonus funds for this category of vehicles they finished quickly, demonstrating that there is a rather high demand for zero-emission vehicles, which is however held back by some factors.

According to T&E and Unrae, the National Union of Foreign Vehicle Representatives, to promote the diffusion of electric cars in Italy a remodulation of incentives, the marketing of cheaper models has always been tax review on company fleets. 

According to the E&S Observatory of the School of Management of the Milan Polytechnic, the purchase price remains a brake The growth of the electric car market, not only in Italy but also across Europe. Despite the expansion of the offering, with the number of electric vehicles growing to over 100 models in the first half of 2024 (20% more than in 2023), the average cost of fully electric vehicles has remained virtually unchanged. 

So we need a best strategy by governments and institutions, but also a increased awareness by the population on the importance of electric mobility for environmental sustainability and a better quality of urban life. 

Read also: 

• Electric car incentives: who got them?
• Hybrid Cars: The 10 Best Models